Rotary engine.



R. H. .WORRELL ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8. I9I4.

1,189,029. A Patented June 27,1916.A

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R. H. WORRELL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8. I9I4.

l l 89,029 Patented June 27, 1916.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 27, 1916..

Application filed March-18, 1914. Serial No. 825,512.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT I-I. WORRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Surveyor, in the county of Raleigh and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rotary engines and resides in the provision of a novelly and simply constructed engine which will operate in a highly eflicient manner at a low fuel consumption.

An important object of my invention is to provide a rotary engine of the character described which is capable of being operated by suitable fluid agents and which will not exceed a certain speed which may be regulated.

Another important object of my invention is to provide governing mechanism which is operatively connected with a valve to cut off the motive agent t0 the engine when the speed of the engine reaches a predetermined point.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a rotor of a simple and reliable construction which cooperates with anovelly constructed cylinder and rings forming a part of my invention and will operate in a most reliable manner at a low pressure of the motive agent used.

My invention further aims to improve rotary engines so as to render them more practical, reliable and efficient, cheap to maintain in operation and working condition, rcheap to manl'lfacture and more commercially desii-able. 1

rl`he above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out as claimed.

lVith reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of my improved `rotary engine showing the same as it would appear when in assembled position, Fig. 2 is a top plan view, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the center of the cylinder and showing the detail construction of the rotor casing and relative position of the rotor thereto.

Referring to the drawings, numeral l designates a suitable base plate having secured thereon spaced upstanding bearing standards 2 between which is mounted upon the base 1 a rotor casing or shell designated 3 as an entirety.

The shell or casing 3 is formed of two approximately semi-circular sections 4 and 5, each consisting of a ring like body por- 70 tion 6 and side flanges 7. A suitable base plate 8 is formed preferably integral with each section and is secured by bolts 9 or other suitable fastening means to the base plate l. r rIhe sections 4 and 5 are provided adjacent their free ends with outwardly extending and apertured lugs formed in pairs and designated 10 and 11 respectively. The pairs 10 are arranged upon opposite sides of certain ends of the sections and the pairs 11 are upon the opposite sides of the other ends of the sections. Upstanding apertured lugs or flanges 12 are formed upon the outer sides of the sections adjacent to the upper ends thereof and have suitable fastening means 13 inserted therethrough. The apertured lugs or flanges 10, 11 and 12 are connected with each other by suitable fastening means to secure the sections rigidly to form a shell or casing.

Rotatably mounted within the shell or casing 3 is a rotor designated 14 as an entirety. This rotor is fixed upon a horizontal shaft l5 that is journaled through the bearing `standards 2. A suitable pulley 16 may be rigidly secured upon the shaft 15 as shown in Fig. 2 in the drawings. The shaft 15 is extended considerably beyond the bearings 2 to accommodate the mounting of the pulley 16 and adjustable governor designated 17 as an entirety .which is operatively connected with the end of the shaft farthest removed from that upon which is mounted the pulley 16.

The rotor 14 consists of a relatively thick approximately circular and disk like body portion having its periphery provided with a plurality of recesses to form abutments 18.

The recesses are extended in an arcuate plane inwardly toward the center of the rotor andprovide compartments 19 having their larger portions adjacent the abutments 18. -The flanges 7 on the sections 4 and 5 engage the sides of the rotor at points spaced from the center thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in the draw'ings. This construction permits free mounting and operation of the shaft 15. The sides of the rotor are reduced and have mounted upon the reduced portion loose rings 20 which are of the ordinary packing ring construction, and are of a slightly greater circumference than the rotor. Locking rings 21 smaller than the rings 20 with relation to circumference are suitably secure-d upon the reduced portion of the rotor and secure the rings 20 in position. rlhe flanges 7 on the sections 4 and 5 engage the outer faces of the rings 21. The rings 2O lit within circular grooves 22 that are formed in the ring like body portion 6 of the sections 4 and 5 of the casing shell 3. The rings 20 fit snugly within the grooves 22 but are free to rotate therein.

As a means for holding the rings snugly in the grooves 22 I provide upon the periphery of the rotor 14 adjacent each abutment 18 a transverse plate 23 that is slidable within a recess 24 formed transversely of the periphery of the rotor and normally forced outwardly by means of a plurality of helical expansion springs 25 that are secured within the recess 24 and to theunder face of the plate 23 in any suitable manner. The plate 23 is connected in any suitable manner rigidly with the sides of the rings 20 which extend beyond the periphery of the rotor 14 proper. It will be readily seen that the springs 25 will force the plate 23 outwardly and subsequently the rings 2O into the grooves 22 in the shell 3 providing a snug fit and preventing escape of the fluid agent. y

Arranged upon opposite sides of the shell or casing 3 are inlet and outlet ports designated 2G and 27 respectively. The port 2G is carried by the section 5 of the casing and the port 27 by the section 4. A pipe 28 connects the inlet port 27 with suitable valve 29 which is in turn connected with the source of motive supply by pipes not shown. The inlet port 26 is directed upwardly and substantially at a tangent to the interior of the casing or shell 3 so that the incoming fluid will be directed against the adjacent abutment 18 and impart movement to the rotor. An arm 30 is lixed to the valve rod of the valve 29 and pivotally connected as at 31 with a link 32 that is pivoted as at 33 to one arm of a bell crank designated 34 as an entirety. lIhis bell crank 34 is mounted in a suitable bearing standard 35 that is secured to the adjacent bearing 2. The other arm of the bell crank 34 is operatively connected with a yoke 36 that is operatively mounted upon the inner sleeve portion 37 of the governor 17.

Through the medium of the adjusting mechanism designated 38 as an entirety the governor 17 may be set to close the valve 29 at predetermined speeds of rotation of the rotor 14. It is desirous in some instances to provide for the cutting olf of the motive agent to the rotor when the rotor has begun to exceed the speed desired and through the medium of the governor 17 and links and rods connecting the valve 29 the valve is closed when the rotor exceeds the desired speed. The motive agent within the compartment 19 on the rotor readily escapes through the exhaust port 27 which may be connected with a suitable pipe 38. The springs 25 serve to press the rings 20 into engagement with the grooves 22 in the casing or shell 3 and in so doing prevent escape of steam, air or the other motive agent employed.

It will be readily seen that I have provided a simple and reliable rotary engine which dispenses with stuffing boxes and other troublesome construction generally employed in engines and which is cheap to manufacture. It will be noted that my improved rotary engine may be readily operated by air, steam, water or other suitable motive agent requiring little power to enable the engine to develop a high power. It will also be noted that my improved engine may be readily assembled and disassembled and that the usual construction and arrangement of parts enable the construction of an extremely light engine as a whole.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most elli cient and practical; yet realizing thatv the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary engine comprising a casing having spaced circumferential grooves on the inner surface thereof, a rotor journaled within the casing and having a plurality of abutments thereon, the said rotor having its opposite ends reduced, rings loosely encircling the reduced ends of the rotor and received by the circumferential grooves on the inner surface of the casing, locking rings encircling the ends of the rotor and engaging the first-mentioned rings, plates connecting the first-mentioned rings to each other, and means carried by the rotor for ngaging the plates, for the purpose speci- 2. A rotary engine comprising a casing having spaced circumferential grooves on the inner surface thereof, a rotor journaled Within the casing and having a plurality of abutments thereon and a plurality of recesses therein adjacent the abutments, rings loosely encircling the rotor and tted Within the circumferential grooves, means associated with the opposite ends of the rotor and engaging the rings, 'means connecting the rings to each other and located opposite the recesses in the rotor, and springs fitted Within the recesses and engaging the connecting means for the rings, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT H. WORRELL. Witnesses:

L. D. SHREWSBURY, J. B. SHREWSBURY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

